MARE NOSTRUM is the name of the cooperation between Izmir French Culture Center and 360 Degrees Historical Researches Association.

The purpose of this cooperation is to join the various activities that are based on the common elements of the Mediterranean culture, and the content of which are on the one hand directly related to the sea and maritime, whereas on the other hand related to social aspects in respect to economic and cultural exchange.

The city of Izmir and its vicinity and the Provence Cote d’Azur region has historical relations which go back to the age of ancient Ionia and still continue. The famous orientalist Antoine Galland states that Provance accent was spoken at the streets of the 17th century Izmir. These ties were relatively weakened throughout the 20th century. However, development of the idea of joint effort and cooperation between our countries both of which lie on the Mediterranean coast and; revival of the economic (the ports), cultural (history and traditions) and social (migration of people) relations between these regions is possible through activities that would motivate the people thereat.

The sea has, from the very dawn of the civilization, been the driving force in the change and transformation of the peoples who live in the Mediterranean region. A Mediterranean culture was born as the result of ever continuing changes and migrations. On the other hand, important developments did happen in the field of land archeology. Accordingly, the sea and the seamen as well as studies that will be made in this field (a study on ports and ships is being made) are not only of political significance, but they are also technically important and; this should not be disregarded. The fragile, unstable and delicate characteristics of marine archeology should also be pointed out.

There is not much data except for few wooden pieces that resisted time and very little number of material. As to the ports, very few traces of the past did remain because of the infrastructure renovations and the changes at the cities. The shorelines did continuously and as the result of sudden changes and ruptures undergo changes. As the result of changes in sea levels, the alluvium basins, geographical formations and similar reasons, the ports are covered by water or soil.

The states are attaching more and more importance to their own archaeological studies for ideological reasons. However, the sea is an international space which requires the states to enter into relations with one another. Thanks to the new technologies, the maritime legacy, and especially the wreckages do become more important in the field of historical and archeological researches.